The Hindu : Elite blamed for drought

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Elite blamed for drought

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD April 26. Leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Jal Yatra, an initiative taken up by the Concerned Citizens and some NGOs in the State, after visiting Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts have concluded that drought "is a socially created situation and not an inevitable natural crisis.''

The leaders told a press conference here on Saturday that there were places in the country where rainfall was significantly less than in AP. Yet in these places with less natural water availability the situation did not translate itself into a drought for the poor.

They alleged that limited water resources were being "monopolised'' by the "politically powerful elite in the community leading to "artificial shortage for the majority of the people who are excluded from any right to access and control over water.''

Rajendra Singh, Magsaysay Award-winner, H.M. Desarda of Maharashtra, B.V. Subba Rao of Centre for Resource Education, and Kishan Rao of Patancheru, felt that the State had failed to make a dent in the distribution of water.

They said various attempts to improve water availability had so far been focussed solely on the supply side. "Scarcity is experienced due to inequity and not because there is no water. Private tankers, five-star hotels and bottles in shops all have enough water in Hyderabad.''

Mr. Rajendra Singh pointed out the Jal Yatra, which concludes on June 7 after touching 17 States, did not find much impact of the Neeru-meeru programme on the drought in AP. He expressed surprise and pain over suicide of farm labour in Anantapur district, although the drought in Rajasthan was more serious. "Perhaps change of lifestyle and agricultural practices had an impact on their lives, leading to suicide.''

Both Mr. Singh and Prof. Desarda, former member of the Maharashtra Planning Board, opposed the river linkage project, saying it was not only not feasible, but disastrous for the country.

Mr. Singh wondered when the Yamuna-Sutlej link-up which remained incomplete for 40 years after incurring an expenditure of Rs. 300 crores, how could the river-linkage project which envisages an investment of five lakh sixty thousand crores be feasible. He described it as an election stunt.

Naram Krishna Rao, former chief engineer, J. Ram Rao of Save Hyderabad and Jasveen Jairath, member, AP Water Partnership, were present at the press conference.

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